New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-21
IOPSY IN TIE PULPIT,
AN APPEAL THAT POWERFULLY MOVED
THE MOURNERS' SEAT.

/
THE MOURNERS' SEAT.
EGYPT Va, Aug. 49," Murdah Hep! Lod
sahe dis niggahl Fo' Gawd she a KILN dis chill.
| Oh Sabe me. Massa Jesus sabe mel" These start
! ling cries. punctuated by bood-curdliDg sbreks,
breaking suddenly upon the still Sabbath air. brought
every occupant OF the porch to their feet with terror
stricken faces. except our hostess who never break
ing tho peaceful sway OF her rocker complacontly re-
marked "Ob, its only Sally beating Topsy." Then
/ she explained " It's my gardeners wife subjugatng
! her She keeps one do all my hired people,
| though do not new phase of the muoh-agtated
question OF capital and labor, you see." But she's
killing her! ner,ousy suggested the latest arrival
from the North the cries continued increased
in violence. son, no. Topsys cries more a
matter OF prevention than cure. When the actual
w0ik OF chastisement begins there will be less noise.
She has caught her yet fact proven by fOpsy 3
suddenly precpltating herself from the front window
OF the gardeners cottage well in advance OF the cor
pulen inquire OF her irate mistress You little brack
ape! You regenernte imp o darkness! eber gIt my
hans you break ebrry bone in your body suAh y
cred the latter, nearly tumblng out OF the window
after her refractory servant in her excitement. IAN
yah! You ebcr gifts go hans on me- DIped Topsy
from the lower limb of a cherry tree on which she
was safely perched. "When yo docs yo' know it.
Reckon dis niger will, too Mrs. Sareh Ann Jnkins
Mrs When / calls yo' drs. it'll be when dab ain {
white ladies' to redress 10y dat inspetable mannah
| calls yo OF Sal Jinkins. Oats wha calls yo en-
dats wha' yO' Is :"
ing on church with her dusky spouse. TOpsy
watched them safely OF sight and then dropped to
the ground. where her small charges gathered around
her ard Immediately joined by the fair haired
daughters OF my hostess Now" said TOpsy, you
little ladies j!s wait I'LL pnts up dis mouners bench,
au den Ia goin ter call dc mectin' TO Jdah.' Evi-
IDENTITY n mourners' bench is the trst requisite of
divine service IN her estimation. Now, den," she
announced, taking her place on stump, while
Ines de hymn de bredrcn an sists will ak up an
ola II II
he seat for IT shakes and trcmblcs alarm
ingy the small congregation comply wIfh her re-
voiced solemnity;
cNoa,o 70 to weep an, 70 10 cry II do mo MA;
Put q az loDlo Up yo gun.
An yo'h al 10 angels bye am bye"
And with great enthusiasm her small coaGrega ion.
especially the eoored portion sweeps INTO the refrain
Come den sists dol' you cry
Yo'l all be angels Dye am bye.
Yo' all be angel, 70 an bye"
Then TOpsy continues In solo:
Pot on d. robe an irirIle up yo' hah.
CT out tckst 70 10 gospel C'y'r.
"1sn yo % Ia al 10 n sS by. al .ig
Again the rous.ng refrain swell out and then 1opsy,
exchanging the oak Leaf that has served her tor
hymnbOOk Tor larger one supposed 10 be the divine
M, brederen an sist's, takes TO- my tex de fir
teenth choUtah oh dc tweDtyi ob r Mafue:
De debl AIN roah'in lion. Eatohn' rVun' TO ebery
niggah no kin koch, TO 'vour en- Dat all de wo'd
"A
lac. lie a layin' To- Us all my chil'er ureacain'
out an grabbn arier an ei ho cher he grip IN
our maps We IS gone niggahs suah. lie neoer let up
TIL he Ink MS down inter dat brack hole. vah-wah
dup burn up but we jst lay, an szzels TO cher
an cher" This the embryo pastor evidently coLsiders
a strOsg poiut and wait, Tor IT TO take ehec but the
congregation sit in Oron-eyed ard open-mOuthed at
tentOn, "a 'nOl ed by aLght but astonishmcnt.
"Oh, ye, nv beloved hearers, goes Topsy
I" dat am wah stan. an dab ain scapo sept 10
fly straight to de Lo'd while de doc am open. Now
Now my chilen now am de cepted time! y But tho
Hood OF elOquopco Is exhausted, and the Obdurate
dock still sit unmOvca. After a momentary pause
IOpsY upon them hercely with Look yere
duu yo know IT'S 'bOnt time oh yo' fool nggahs
wah gctin dc powah 7" This uneXp ectcd reminder
OF neglected duty causes slight nutter in tho con
gTcgatioD, not seriou. itself but too Tor the
"anlOus sVa" which suddenly tips over, Occasoniug
q general backslid of the nock. and converting the
er7t dcyOut greg alton into Il mi Acd OF limbs,
black, brown and dant, she'd The pastor, alter
gasp OF astOGishment. cries lleah, dab, you Drack
nIggahs, dur 20 move till ! iish desc little white
indies ont Then remarks to the white sheep OF the
flock. " Dem fool niggaEa dun know nuien. ia am
got no lOtch mp. Ia dun eben know how 10 git happy
when de timr Comes Lea go down in de Gavin house,
an hab circas Praps da know how TO reform in
dat bettah!"